Srinagar: Terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has reportedly asked people in the valley to stay away from rom the upcoming panchayat elections surfaced in Jammu & Kashmir's Doda district.

Police told My Nation that some posters appeared in Dhandal and Gurmal area of Kastigarh yesterday. Following which, a
case was registered. Over  Sunday as posters surfaced in Dhandal and Gurmal area of Kastigarh after which over a dozen suspected persons were rounded up for questioning, the official said. 

The nine-phase village panchayat elections are scheduled to start in the state on November 17.

Sources said the posters asked prospective candidates not to participate in the panchayat election. The local police officers first got the information that some miscreants were pasting some posters with the intention to disrupt the upcoming elections.

Doda Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg  said the police swung into action and registered a case under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Ranbir Penal Code at Doda police station and started an investigation. Around 13 people were detained for questioning. Some more suspects are likely to be questioned.

He added that the police addressed a public meeting to reassure people not to be afraid of miscreants' threat and understand their designs, the officer said. 

They have also launched regular patrolling in the area, besides conducting the police-community partnership group meetings in Dhandal and Kastigarh areas. As many as 232 nominations have been filed in Kashtigarh block for 88 seats of panch and sarpanch of village panchayats.